Shuttle checking device for looms



Sept. 23, 1941. s lo, DODGE 2,256,735.l

SHUTTLE CHECKING DEVICE FOR LOOMS sept. 23, 1941. s. o.v DO'DGE 2,256,735

SHUTTLE CHECKING DEVICE FOR LOOMS4 Filed Oct. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 23, 1941 SHUTTLE CHECKING DEVICE FOR LOOMS Sherwood O. Dodge, Medford, Mass., assignor to Guaranteed Parts, Inc., Allston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts`v Application october 19, 1940, serial No. 361,909

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shuttle checking devices for looms and particularly to a tension device for a check strap for a picker stick and shuttle.

In the operation of certain looms it has been the custom for many years to utilize a check strap as a means for checking the movement of the picker stick and shuttle and bringing the latter to a stop inthe shuttle box. Associated with this check strap is a rigid tension device which frictionally engages the strap with equal pressure during both the incoming and discharge movements of the shuttle in the shuttle box in a manner to cause considerable wear to the strap and thereby making it necessary to replace said strap frequently.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple effective device for applying friction to a check strap as the shuttle enters the shuttle box, and for automatically releasing or reducing said friction when the shuttle is discharged from the shuttle box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having a pivoted friction member embodied therein which may be reversed to present anew friction surface for engagement with the check strap in the event that the original surface becomes worn excessively.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure which will eliminate excessive heating caused Vby the constant frictional engagements of the friction member with the check strap. f The invention consists of a shuttle checking device for looms as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an end portion of a lay and associated parts including a shuttle checking device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the mechanism of this invention positioned to check the movement of a check strap, and the latter being positioned at the end of the checking movement of the picker stick and shuttle as the latter is brought to a stop in the shuttle box, portions of the lay structure being illustrated in light dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view similarto Fig. 2 illustrating the checking device positioned to reduce the friction upon the check strap during the movement of the picker stick. t discharge the shuttle from the shuttle box.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view illustrating ya modied embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view illustrating still another modif-led embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs.

'1, 2 and 3, Il) represents an endr portion of the lay of a loom, and Ii represents an end portion of a guide member'for a picker stick I2 for said loom, said guide member II being attached tothe lay at I3 and by other suitable means well known in the art. A check strap I4 for the picker stick I2 is formed as a loop and attached to a holder I5 supported by the lay I0 b-y means of a clamping structure I6 consisting ofv abolt and co-operating washers. Formed integral with the guide member I I and projecting downwardly therefrom are a pair of friction fingers I1 for the check strap I4, an inner face I8 ofwhich is v arranged to slide in opposite directions `across a curved surface I9 of each of said fingers as movement is imparted to the check strap by means of the picker stick. The portion of the check strap I4 which is located opposite the clamping means I6 therefor is supported upon forwardly projecting shelves ities of the friction fingers tegral with the guide member II and projecting outwardly and downwardly'therefrom is an arm 2 I, a face of which is grooved at 22 to constitute a guide for a bracket 23 which is movable toward and away from the check strap I4 and which is secured to the arm 2| bya bolt 24. Pivotally attached to the bracket 23 by means of a pivotal pin 25 is a friction member 26 constructed of a wear and heat resisting material, as, for example,y

graphited Bakelite, an arcuate surface 2,'I of which vengages the check Strap I4 at a point substantially midway between the friction fingers I1 during the movement of the check strap I4 in the direction ofthe arrow a, Fig. 2, in which,

direction the check strap is moved by the movement of the picker stick-when the `latter is contacted by the shuttle 28 as said shuttle entersthe shuttle box. TheV friction member 26 is reversible upon the bracket 23, being provided with two holes 29 for the reception of the pivotal pin 25, and with two arcuate surfaces 21 arranged to contact with the check strap IIl, and when one of said arcuate surfaces becomes worn to 20 provided at the lowery extrem- I1. Also formed in saidY strap is moved in the direction of the arrow' a, Fig. 2, by the picker stick I3 when the latter is contacted by the shuttle 28 as said shuttle enters the shuttle box and is brought to a stoptherein.

In Fig. 3 Vthe friction member 26 is Villustrated in contact with the stop 3l to which position it is moved by its frictional contact with the check strap when the latter is moved ina reversey direction from that indicated by arrow a, Fig. 2,

said movement being caused by the movement of `across the curved faces I9 ofthe friction fingers I1 in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 2. At

` strap to be moved in upon the check strap. relievedby the Ause of the picker stick I2 in the-operation of impelling the shuttle `from thev shuttle box. When .the friction member 26 is located in this positiona greater portion of the resistance that said friction Ymember is provided to create upon the check strap is relieved. Y Y

The general operation of the structure hereinbefore specically described is as follows: During the operation of the loom as the shuttleY 23 is driven across the lay I0 `and contacts with the member is reversed upon the bracket 23 to provide a new friction surface for engagement with the check strap. By constructing the friction member 26 of graphited Bakelite heat caused by friction is greatly reduced.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified embodiment of my invention in which a movable friction member 32 constructed of metal and having an arcuate surface 33 arranged to frictionally Contact with a check strap I4 is rigidly fastened in any suitable manner to a pin 34 by which it is pivotally mounted in a bearing 35 forming a part of a bracket 36 which is adjustablysecured to an arm 2| of a guide member II by means of a bolt 24 in exactly the same vmanner as is the bracket 23 previously described. The friction member 32 is normally held in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4 against a stop 31 l provided upon the bracket 36 by means of a heli- Y cal spring 38 which surroundsV the pin 34 below the bearing 35 and above the collar 39 which is rigidly fastened to said pin, opposite extremities of said spring interlocking. with said bearing and collar in a manner to obtain the tension desired" to check the movement of the picker stick and shuttle. A movement of the check strap towardV the left in Fig. 4 will cause the Afriction member buffer "of the picker stick I2 upon entering the Y shuttle box, the picker stick driven toward the right as viewedin Fig'. V2 will cause the loose portion of the check strap I 4 located opposite the clamping member I6 therefor to be pulledV the start of this movement of the check strap I4 'the friction member 26 is locatedA as indicated in Fig. 3 incontact with the stop `3l and the fric-` tioncreated upon the check strap is reduced to a considerable extent. When however the picker stick contacts with the right hand portionv of` the loop of the check strap as indicated in Fig. 2

the impetus given to the check strap to move the'` latter in the direction of the arrow awill cause the friction member 26 to move tothe position illustrated inv said Fig. 2 forcing the check strap rearwardly between the fingers I'I andthereby increasing the tension upon the check strap at C a time when it is needed to bring the'pickerstick and shuttle to a stop. VWhen, however, the picker stick is driven toward the left in Fig. 2 to discharge the shuttle 28 fromY the shuttle box, the

picker stick upon contacting with the opposite side of the loopro'f the check strap causes said an opposite direction `from that vindicated by the arrow a and the friction i of :thejstrap upon the friction member 26 will cau'sethe latter to be j illustrated in Fig. 2 to moved from the position friction thereon created ber'2-6 at a time when friction is 'not necessary `the position of the bracket 23 toward or away lf'rorn'the check strap, arcuatesurface becomes worn to and inthe event that an such an extent that its usefulnessY is impairedr the position of said friction 21er the friction Yr'nemter 2e' 32 to assume a position approximately as illustrated in light dash lines in said Fig. Ll-causing the check strap to travel in betwenY the friction ngers check strap and reducing the wear thereon.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated still another modified embodiment of my invention in which adjustably secured to the arm 2I 4of -the `guideV` The rollerV member II by means of a bolt 24.

fit is positioned upon the bracket 4I between ears 42 and isl rotatable upon a pin 43v in the direction of the arrow b,` see Fig.Y 6. The movement of the roller 4t however in an opposite direction Vis prevented by a small cylindrical member 4 which is held in. a space providedl x between the roller 49 'and an 'edge 45 of the n to check the bracket'll' by means of a spring/48. When the` check strap i4 is forced toward the yright in Fig. 6 by the action of the picker stick I 2 the roller 4U is prevented from rotating and afriction is.' created upon the check strap sufficient movement of the picker v stick and shuttle, but when the check strap is moved toward the left in said Fig. 6 the roller 40 is permitted to rotate thereby reducing the resist- A anc-e to the movementr of the checkV strap and v that illustrated in Fig.A 3, l thereby greatly relieving'the pressure upon. said strap and reducing the `by thefriction ngers and `by the friction mem- Vto produce a friction upon the check strap and `or desirable and in a manner to reduce the wear The friction created andV consequently reducing the wear thereon.Y

The various embodiments of.this invention hereinbefore described all function in a manner retard the movement thereof when the shuttle enters the shuttle box and to reduce the fric-V tion upon said strap when the shuttle is discharged from saidv lshuttle box. In each embodiment ofthe invention wear upon the check strap is'reduced. v

Y I claim:

l. Ina loom the combination ywith a lay having a pair of rigid friction lingers embodied therein of a picker stick, a check Strap forlsaid Y picker stick immovablysecured upon oneV sideY d thereof to said lay and Vfrictionally'contacting a more direct path I'I and thereby-re-A ducing the resistance to the movement of the upon an opposite movable side thereof with both of said fingers, and a movable friction member positioned upon the lay to engage said check strap between the fingers and to be moved automatically by the check strap during free sliding movements of the latter in opposite directions across the fingers to automatically increase the friction upon the check strap in one direction and decrease said friction in the opposite drection.

2. In a loom the combination with a lay having a pair of friction fingers embodied therein of a picker stick, a check strap for said picker stick immovably secured upon one side thereof to said lay and frictionally contacting upon an opposite movable side thereof with both of said fingers, a friction member pivotally mounted upon the lay and positioned to `co-operate With said fingers and to be contacted by the check strap during free sliding movements of the latter in opposite directions across the fingers to increase the friction upon the check strap in one direction and decrease said friction in the opposite direction, and means to restrict the rocking movement of the friction member to prevent a clamping engagement of the latter with the check strap.

3. In a loom the combination With a lay having a pair of friction fingers embodied therein of a picker stick, a check strap for said picker stick immovably secured upon one side thereof to said lay and frictionally contacting upon an opposite movable side thereof With both of said fingers, a friction member pivotally mounted upon said lay and positioned to co-operate with said lingers and to be contacted by the check strap during free sliding movements of the latter in opposite directions across the fingers to increase the friction upon the check strap in one direction and decrease said friction in the opposite direction, means to hold said friction member in yielding contact with the check strap, and means to restrict the rocking movement of the friction member to prevent a clamping engagement of the latter with the check strap.

4. In a loom the combination with a lay having a pair of `friction fingers embodied therein of a picker stick, a check strap for said picker stick immovably secured upon one side thereof to said lay and frictionally contacting upon an opposite movable side thereof with both of said fingers, a roller mounted upon the lay and contacting between the fingers with the movable side of the check strap to be rotated thereby in one direction, and means to lock said roller against rotation when the check strap is moved in the opposite direction.

SHERWOOD O. DODGE. 

